The Effect of High Intensity U.V. Radiation on Benthic Marine Algae

Abstract

We are using fluorescence microscopy in the determination of damage caused to algal cells by various chemical and physical treatments. Damage is manifest as a change in the fluorescence spectrum of the cells. Fluorescence microscopy exposes cells to short-blue. (400–460 nm) and UV-A (315–400 nm) light. Shorter wavelengths in the UV-B range are eliminated by the glass microscope lenses and filters. We observed that exposure of algal tissue to the exciting beam of the fluorescence microscope also causes damage to cells which can be seen as a change in the fluorescence spectrum over time during exposure. We have attempted to determine the degree of damage to the algae as a result of this exposure and to describe the progress of the damage to the cells.